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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

Signature City New Orleans: An Unforgettable City Of Mystery and Intrigue

Itinerary for Jan 20 — Jan 25, 2013

Description: Your home for five nights is the elegant Royal Sonesta Hotel, in the heart of the French Quarter, right on Bourbon Street, where you are only steps from The Mississippi River, entertainment, great restaurants, antiques and much more. We also request inside rooms for our participants so that noise will not be a problem.

Smoking policy: YesSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Additional nights before: $184/night, plus 13% plus $1Price of rooms for additional nights dependent on time of year and availability. Price is not guaranteed and is subject to change by the hotel.
See Pre/Post Hotel Information

Afternoon: Registration and Orientation at 4:30 p.m. Meet your fellow participants and your director for the week. Receive your packet of information and learn about the week's schedule, all the great adventures and dining venues we have planned for you.

Dinner: You will be treated to a fabulous meal in the Royal Sonesta Hotel at 6:30 p.m.

Description: Your home for five nights is the elegant Royal Sonesta Hotel, in the heart of the French Quarter, right on Bourbon Street, where you are only steps from The Mississippi River, entertainment, great restaurants, antiques and much more. We also request inside rooms for our participants so that noise will not be a problem.

Smoking policy: YesSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Additional nights before: $184/night, plus 13% plus $1Price of rooms for additional nights dependent on time of year and availability. Price is not guaranteed and is subject to change by the hotel.
See Pre/Post Hotel Information

Check in time: 4:00 PM

Day Two: Monday, January 21 - New Orleans Culture Lecture, Field Trip to City, ...

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: "New Orleans Culture and History ... it's a New Orleans Thing." Hear about New Orleans traditions, celebrations and people. This entertaining class is taught by a true humorist who has lived here all her life. She oozes with the "joie de vivre" that makes New Orleans locals so unique and memorable.

Lunch: Either Monday or Tuesday will be lunch on your own. The other day will be lunch at the renowned Commander's Palace, previous winner of the James Beard Award (the "Oscar" of Food).

Afternoon: Continue your exceptional overview of New Orleans on a motor coach as your instructor illuminates the architecture, people, traditions and more of the Big Easy.of New Orleans devastated by the hurricane.

Dinner: Savor our unique way of experiencing the cuisine of New Orleans. We use a “dine around” concept that lets participants dine in small groups of 12 (tables of 4-6), maximizing camaraderie. On Monday to Thursday, you will dine at the Bourbon House, Palace Café or Muriel’s, and you will enjoy dinner on your own a fourth night. The night on your own may vary from person to person. You will enjoy four- and five-course meals at some of New Orleans’ best restaurants.

Evening: Use your free time after dinner to experience the night life in the French Quarter, perhaps hearing jazz at Preservation Hall or Fritzel's (vouchers provided).

Description: Your home for five nights is the elegant Royal Sonesta Hotel, in the heart of the French Quarter, right on Bourbon Street, where you are only steps from The Mississippi River, entertainment, great restaurants, antiques and much more. We also request inside rooms for our participants so that noise will not be a problem.

Smoking policy: YesSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Additional nights before: $184/night, plus 13% plus $1Price of rooms for additional nights dependent on time of year and availability. Price is not guaranteed and is subject to change by the hotel.
See Pre/Post Hotel Information

Morning: After delving into New Orleans architecture, experience an informative walk with your instructor in the Garden District. Discuss the various types of iron works, architecture and historic homes with an instructor who builds miniatures.

Lunch: At a local restaurant

Afternoon: “Louisiana Politics and Mardi Gras." This is a fascinating class, taught by a dyed-in-the-wool Louisiana native who is a regular New Orleans encyclopedia. You will relish his storytelling and when you learn some of the behind-the-scenes tales and events of Louisiana’s infamous politics and the always entertaining Mardi Gras, you will tell stories of your own to friends and family upon returning home.

Dinner: At one of New Orleans' premier restaurants or on your own.

Evening: After dinner, enjoy free time to enjoy more New Orleans night life, music and culture.
Your vouchers can be used to listen to jazz at Preservation Hall and Fritzel's.

Description: Your home for five nights is the elegant Royal Sonesta Hotel, in the heart of the French Quarter, right on Bourbon Street, where you are only steps from The Mississippi River, entertainment, great restaurants, antiques and much more. We also request inside rooms for our participants so that noise will not be a problem.

Smoking policy: YesSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Additional nights before: $184/night, plus 13% plus $1Price of rooms for additional nights dependent on time of year and availability. Price is not guaranteed and is subject to change by the hotel.
See Pre/Post Hotel Information

Morning: Hear a genuine Mardi Gras Indian explain the mysterious cultural group at his Golden Feather restaurant, where you will enjoy African food and marvel at magnificent Mardi Gras Indian costumes and artwork.
Later, experience the Sculpture Garden and Museum of Art in the breathtaking New Orleans City Park.

Lunch: Experience another great meal.

Afternoon: Enjoy using a voucher to explore two showcases of the Louisiana State Museum, the Presbytere, which houses an elaborate collection of Mardi Gras artifacts, and the Cabildo, the seat of Colonial government. You might also explore on your own the Museum of Southern Art, the World War II Museum, or ride the Steamboat Natchez paddle wheeler on the Mississippi.

Dinner: At one of New Orleans' premier restaurants or on your own.

Evening: After dinner, enjoy free time to experience more night life, music and New Orleans culture. You can use your voucher at the renowned Café du Monde for café au lait and beignets.

Description: Your home for five nights is the elegant Royal Sonesta Hotel, in the heart of the French Quarter, right on Bourbon Street, where you are only steps from The Mississippi River, entertainment, great restaurants, antiques and much more. We also request inside rooms for our participants so that noise will not be a problem.

Smoking policy: YesSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Additional nights before: $184/night, plus 13% plus $1Price of rooms for additional nights dependent on time of year and availability. Price is not guaranteed and is subject to change by the hotel.
See Pre/Post Hotel Information

Check in time: 4:00 PM

Day Five: Thursday, January 24 - Literature, Excursion and Lunch at Cooking School...

Literature, Excursion and Lunch at Cooking School, Leisure Time to Explore, Dinner

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: “Literary Landmarks.” Learn about the famous writers who lives in, and wrote about, the French Quarter: Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, John Kennedy Toole and more. Your instructor is managing editor of the Tennessee Williams Journal, and her love of writing and New Orleans is evident in her passionate lectures.

Lunch: At the world-famous New Orleans School of Cooking, learn how to cook Creole ... and enjoy your creation for lunch. For dessert, sample the best pralines in town.

Afternoon: If you weren’t able to experience the Cabildo or Prebytere in Jackson Square earlier, use a voucher and go at your own pace. Or on your own, you may want to peruse antiques on Royal Street, visit the Audubon Aquarium of the Americans, stop in at Pat O’Brien’s — home of the "Hurricane" beverage — on Bourbon Street or delve into other culture, people and celebrations of the Big Easy.

Dinner: Enjoy your last dinner at another special New Orleans eatery.

Evening: Make your last visit for New Orleans Jazz and learn "What it Means to miss New Orleans."

Day Six: Friday, January 25 - Court of Two Sisters, Musical Performance, Farewe...

Brunch: Enjoy brunch at 9 a.m. at the renowned Court of Two Sisters. Be entertained by New Orleans jazz over a sumptuous buffet of New Orleans delights. Enjoy your last dining experience with new friends and, perhaps, a vastly changed picture of the Big Easy. Check-out is 10:30 a.m.

Important information about your itinerary: Please know that while we do everything we can to finalize all aspects of our programs well in advance, there are logistics that occasionally must be altered. Our website will reflect the most recent information, and we are committed to providing you with final program details no later than eight weeks prior to the start of programs outside the U.S. and three weeks prior to the start of programs within the U.S. If you ever have questions about your program, please don't hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

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The latest in light, portable, easy-to-use QUIETVOX listening devices are available on Road Scholar programs.* Whether you are outdoors, in a crowd or in a museum environment where speaking loudly is discouraged, a listening device makes it feel like our experts are speaking clearly and directly to you. Hear for yourself on a Road Scholar adventure!

*Please note that due to the nature of some programs, the remote location or government regulations, listening devices may not be available. If you’d like to know for sure if your program will offer listening devices, just call and ask an Advisor!